It appears that at some point in the next two weeks, the Supreme Court will hand down a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a constitutional right for women to choose an abortion. Assuming that happens, I will surely return to the decision and its consequences at numerous points over the coming weeks and months. For my first stab at making sense of its import and implications, I offer today 6 theses about the imminent end of
One thing that I have noticed in American politics and public opinion is that a lot of people say they support certain things or policies. We have reams of polling data that tells us that.
This rarely translates into substantive political action. It rarely seems to shape voting practices or actual legislation.
The political extremes DO act and vote to support the things they say they support. There is a level of dedication there. An actual goal.
The people in the muddled middle (as you put it) say a lot of things, but there is no dedication there, no goal there... well, actually the goal is just to muddle along with things the way they are now. Live their lives. keep their heads down, worry about the small things or things (like inflation) that neither they nor the politicians can actually do much about. It comes down to a combination of what it is costing them or how it is directly impacting their life. If it isn't visibly costing anything or has no discernible impact, there will be little or no action.
My big concern is thesis 3. Like you I see no real reason why the current court would not continue along current trajectory and overturn all of that stuff as well.
If that happens THEN you might see some substantive political reaction. I do not think overturning Roe, by itself, is enough.
One thing that I have noticed in American politics and public opinion is that a lot of people say they support certain things or policies. We have reams of polling data that tells us that.
This rarely translates into substantive political action. It rarely seems to shape voting practices or actual legislation.
The political extremes DO act and vote to support the things they say they support. There is a level of dedication there. An actual goal.
The people in the muddled middle (as you put it) say a lot of things, but there is no dedication there, no goal there... well, actually the goal is just to muddle along with things the way they are now. Live their lives. keep their heads down, worry about the small things or things (like inflation) that neither they nor the politicians can actually do much about. It comes down to a combination of what it is costing them or how it is directly impacting their life. If it isn't visibly costing anything or has no discernible impact, there will be little or no action.
My big concern is thesis 3. Like you I see no real reason why the current court would not continue along current trajectory and overturn all of that stuff as well.
If that happens THEN you might see some substantive political reaction. I do not think overturning Roe, by itself, is enough.
All good theses! Re #6, Biden will be slow to condemn the pro-choice terrorists, as he was with the looters during the George Floyd demonstrations.